Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 February (WA 218) concerning the appointment of the Director of Marketing and Communications for Waterways Ireland, who set the criteria for the appointment; and on what basis it was approved by the appropriate departments and by the North/South Ministerial Council.

Baroness Amos: Further to my Answer on 24 February 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 218), the criteria were set by Waterways Ireland alone in line with its general requirements for posts at that level.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the North/South Ministerial Council report of a meeting on 26 June 2002 (WI 1(02)6), whether the listed total of seven seconded staff included the Director of Marketing and Communications; and, if not, which category the appointment is in.

Baroness Amos: The Waterways Ireland staffing report (WI 1(02)6) to the North/South Ministerial Council meeting of 26 June 2002 cites the Director of Marketing and Communications as one of four directors who have taken up their posts. Within the report he was included in the category of designated and transferred staff and so was not included in the seven seconded staff also listed in the said report.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Waterways Ireland procedure on bullying and harassment complaints refers to Northern Ireland as "the North".

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the Answer given on 18 November 2003 (WA 271) when this matter was previously addressed.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Maternity Leave

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis female officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are currently entitled to 13 weeks paid maternity leave when their civilian colleagues within the PSNI are entitled to 18 weeks; and what assessment they have made of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland's direction to address this anomaly.

Baroness Amos: The pay and conditions of service of police officers are negotiated on a UK-wide basis by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). The Police Federation of Northern Ireland is represented on the PNB and any changes that it may propose to paid maternity leave would be taken forward through the PNB negotiating process.

Northern Ireland: Public Sector Pension Schemes

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the five largest public sector pension schemes in Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available, what were:
	(a) the total amount of employees' contributions;
	(b) the total amount of employers' contributions;
	(c) the schemes' total income from contributions and net transfers;
	(d) the schemes' total expenditure on paying members' pensions and benefits; and
	(e) the difference between such income and expenditure.

Baroness Amos: The five largest public sector pension schemes in Northern Ireland are:
	Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme for Northern Ireland [PCSPS(NI)];
	Northern Ireland Teachers Superannuation Scheme (NITSS);
	Health and Personal Social Services Superannuation Scheme (HPSSSS);
	Northern Ireland Local Government Pension Scheme (NILGOS); and
	Police Service for Northern Ireland Pension Scheme (PSNIPS).
	The information requested in respect of each scheme for the 2003–04 financial year as follows (£000's).
	
		
			  PCSPS(NI) HPSSSS NITSS NILGOS PSNIPS 
			 (a) total amount of employees' contributions 12,332 61,856 43,205 33,785 28,715 
			 (b) total amount of employers' contributions 92,305 74,740 56,774 30,405 52,822 
			 (c) the schemes' total income from contributions and net transfers 102,825 139,892 105,496 73,732 87,146 
			 (d) the schemes' total expenditure on paying members' pensions and   benefits 130,187 139,752 186,642 79,534 101,165 
			 (e) the difference between income (c) and expenditure (d) 27,362 140 81,146 5,802 14,019

Northern Ireland: Teachers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 January (WA 74), (a) which are the various authorities that hold information on the religious breakdown of teachers employed in schools; (b) in what form such authorities collect and collate this information; (c) how the Equality Commission can make the required assessment of the effect of teachers' exemption from fair employment law if the necessary statistics are unavailable; and (d) what is the estimated cost of collecting and collating this information.

Baroness Amos: In response to previous Questions, I stated that the Department of Education in Northern Ireland does not hold statistical information on the religious breakdown of teachers employed in schools. Furthermore, I stated that the various employing authorities that are responsible for employing teachers hold this information.
	I have now been advised that this latter piece of information was factually incorrect for which I apologise. The department does not hold any statistical information regarding the religious breakdown of teachers, nor is it aware of any other bodies which do.
	I am informed that the Equality Commission obtained the information it required for its report, The Exception of Teachers from the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998 by selecting a 10 per cent sample of schools, in each management category and educational level, within each of the five education and library boards. Further information of how the commission conducted the investigation can be obtained from its website www.equalityni.org.
	No information is held regarding the cost of the commission's sampling exercise.

Northern Ireland: Stormont Estate Car Parking Spaces

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many new car parking spaces have been made available on the Stormont estate since 1998; and at which locations; what number of further spaces are being considered; and whether they will avoid turning further parkland into free car parking spaces and return temporary office sites to parkland after moving staff to Belfast city centre accommodation.

Baroness Amos: A total of 116 new car park spaces have been made available on the Stormont estate since 1998. Of these, 12 were created on a derelict site at the Massey Avenue entrance, to accommodate cars belonging to the ministerial carpool. A further 45 spaces were created at Block B Castle Buildings for departments' use, on a redundant builder's compound site. The creation of a new play park in the estate, for use by the general public, required the development of 59 car park spaces. Any further developments on the estate, including the provision of car parking, will be dependent on the implementation of the workplace 2010 accommodation review.

Northern Ireland: 11-plus Examination

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How information about the consultation process for the replacement of the 11-plus examination in Northern Ireland can be obtained; and how they will ensure that the response represents the entire population.

Baroness Amos: Requests for a copy of the consultation document and response booklet can be made to the department by telephone, in writing, by fax and by e-mail. The document can also be viewed and downloaded from the Department of Education website, and responses to the consultation can be made on-line.
	A leaflet has been issued to parents of school-age children through schools, providing details of the consultation and how they can respond. Advertisements giving similar details were also placed in the three main newspapers.
	The department is encouraging everyone to respond to this important issue and all responses will be considered before decisions are taken. Over 17,000 copies of the consultation document and response booklet have been issued to date.

Northern Ireland: Liscurry Brae, Artigarvan

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the work on the footpath at Liscurry Brae in Artigarvan, County Tyrone, will be completed.

Baroness Amos: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government when the work on the footpath at Liscurry Brae in Artigarvan, County Tyrone, will be completed [HL1878]. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	The scheme at Liscurry Brae in Artigarvan commenced in November 2004 and involves the provision of 280 metres of new footway and the resurfacing of the adjacent carriageway. Currently both the footway and the carriageway are at base course level. We also intend to extend the carriageway resurfacing work further into the village as far as Moorlough Road and this scheme is to commence after the Easter holidays.
	In order to minimise the disruption to the road user we decided that the surface course on both schemes should be laid under a single road closure. It is expected that this work will be completed within the next eight weeks.
	In relation to the footpath to which you specifically refer, the surface course over the majority of the footpath can be laid in advance of the road closure and this work will be carried out within the next two weeks.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Northern Ireland: Centre for Excellence for the Education of Children with Autism

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the initial development costs of £125,000 for the Middletown Autism Centre are made up.

Baroness Amos: The estimated initial development costs of £125,000 referred to in May 2004 were made up of project management and administration costs as well as the DE share of costs for legal services, building surveys carried out in 2002 and subsequent building consultancy fees. The actual equivalent of this figure is £127,800 and is broken down as follows:
	project management—£68,600;
	general administrative costs—f2,800;
	legal services—£22,700;
	building related surveys—£30,700; and
	building consultancy fee—£3,000.

Northern Ireland: Centre for Excellence for the Education of Children with Autism

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is normal practice for the Northern Ireland Department of Education to enter into an interim funding agreement when purchasing a property; and, if so, what payments or funding have been made since 1 January 1990.

Baroness Amos: An interim funding agreement on the Middletown project in County Armagh for the development of a centre of excellence for children and young people with autism was concluded between the Department of Education and the Institute of Saint Louis on the 25 June 2004. This agreement covered the period from April 2002 to June 2004 and amounted to £150,632.75. The department has not entered into any other such agreements.

Northern Ireland: Centre for Excellence for the Education of Children with Autism

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the case of the purchase of a convent and chapel at Middletown in County Armagh by the Northern Ireland Department of Education, funding was paid to the vendor under an interim funding agreement; if so, to whom the funding was made; for what purpose; and when.

Baroness Amos: The Department of Education did not enter into an interim funding agreement in relation to the purchase of a convent and chapel at Middletown, County Armagh. An interim funding agreement was concluded in respect of the remaining property on the Middletown site. this interim funding agreement clearly defines the premises as the whole Middletown site; excluding the reserved area that contains the convent and chapel.

Northern Ireland: Centre for Excellence for the Education of Children with Autism

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House the funding agreement between the Northern Ireland Department of Education and the holding company which owns the Centre for Autistic Children in Middletown.

Baroness Amos: A copy of the funding agreement between the Department of Education and the Middletown Centre for Autism (Holdings) Limited will be placed in the Library shortly.

Northern Ireland: Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will commission research into the use and outcomes of anti-social behaviour orders in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: We are currently considering how best to evaluate the use of anti-social behaviour orders in Northern Ireland.

Good Friday Agreement: Early Release Prisoners

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many criminals released under the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland have since been convicted of further offences.

Baroness Amos: Details are held only in relation to those early release prisoners who come to the attention of the police while they are still under licence. At 24 March 2005, 28 of the individuals granted early release under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 had been convicted of further offences while on licence.

Northern Ireland: Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons associated with terrorist organisations based in Northern Ireland are now subject to constraints under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.

Baroness Amos: No orders have been made against persons associated with terrorist organisations based in Northern Ireland under Sections 2 or 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. This is an exceptional piece of legislation aimed at exceptional circumstances and I would not expect these provisions to be used routinely. Our aim is that if individuals are suspected of involvement in terrorist acts the police will seek to gather the evidence necessary to secure a conviction in court.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis in 2001 the Ulster-Scots Agency Chief Executive selected an area boards audit team to carry out an examination of the agency's financial arrangements; how much the examination cost; and what were the conclusions of the audit team.

Baroness Amos: I have been advised by the Ulster-Scots Agency that in 2000 it commissioned an internal audit examination to be undertaken by the Southern Health and Social Services Board. Regrettably the agency officials can find no record of the basis on which this decision was made. The audit cost was £2,566.20. Following completion of the audit, this statement of assurance was provided: "Whilst systems and control procedures have yet to be fully established, the Chief Executive has a direct supervision over almost all aspects of the agency. There are key controls in place over the processing of payments".

House of Lords: Composition

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the factual basis for the statement made by the Leader of the House of Commons on 17 March (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 409) that the House of Lords has a "big 'C' and small 'c' Conservative majority"; and
	What is the factual basis for the statement made by the Leader of the House of Commons on 10 March (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 1689) that there is a "Conservative-controlled House of Lords".

Baroness Amos: I understand that, in making those statements, the Leader of the House of Commons had in mind that since the election of the present Government in 1997 there has been a significant increase in the number of government defeats in this House.
	The average number of government defeats per Session in this Parliament is 69.
	The average number of government defeats per Session under the previous government between 1992 and 1997 was 12.

European Union: Ambassadors

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether British embassies will close if, in the future, European Union ambassadors become more important than British ambassadors.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave him on 4 April (Official Report, col. WA 71).

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the International Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, uncovered evidence that would allow any of the war criminals identified to be tried under laws giving effect to the convention against torture, in the United Kingdom or other states party to the convention.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is for the national prosecution services of the United Kingdom to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute here those referred to in the International Commission of Inquiry's report under the convention against torture. The situation in Darfur was referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by a United Nations Security Council Resolution on 31 March. The UK sponsored this resolution, and we believe that the ICC is the best judicial mechanism to deal with the perpetrators of the crimes in Darfur.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the report of Médecins Sans Frontières, The Crushing Burden of Rape. Sexual Violence in Darfur, published on 8 March.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Such attacks are abhorrent. We have made, and continue to make clear to the government of Sudan that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
	We understand that the African Union (AU) mission is increasingly co-ordinating its patrols to provide protection to women when they leave populated areas in search of food or firewood. Where this is happening we understand the number of reported rapes has decreased significantly and we are encouraging the AU to expand this practice.
	The UK has contributed over £66 million towards the Darfur crisis since September 2003, including £500,000 towards the International Rescue Committee's Darfur programme, and £2.1 million towards Médecins Sans Frontières' health programme. These both contain components to tackle attacks on women. We have also contributed more than £14 million towards the AU mission to date.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What talks they have held with Minni Arkoi, the Secretary General of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), during his visit to London; and how they intend to respond to his request for United Kingdom involvement in peace-keeping in Darfur, Sudan, and for the United Kingdom to act as broker between the SLA and the Khartoum government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My honourable friend the Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris Mullin) and the UK Special Representative for Sudan met Minni Arkoi Minnawi in London on 22 March. They made it clear to Mr Minnawi that he has responsibilities to ensure that the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) abides by its commitments in the N'Djamena ceasefire agreement and the Abuja humanitarian and security protocols. They emphasised that they expect the SLM/A to engage without pre-conditions and at the highest levels at the next round of Darfur peace talks in Abuja. The special representative urged the SLM/A and other Darfur parties to participate in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Nairobi on 9 January.
	The EU and US are already participating directly in the African Union (AU) mission. We have a UK monitor and a UK planning officer working with the AU. We are also supporting the AU's monitoring mission, including with financial assistance (more than £14 million) and logistics (over 600 vehicles, as well as maps and ration packs). We are clear that the AU should remain in the lead in monitoring the ceasefire in Darfur, and we will continue to support it in this. The UN is also considering how best it can support the AU in its task, and we will play our part in any recommendations it makes.
	A UK observer has attended previous rounds of the Abuja talks to provide support to both the parties and the African Union mediation. We plan to attend the next round, in a similar role.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many African Union soldiers are now garrisoned in western Darfur, Sudan; and whether their numbers and mandate will enable them to enter discussions with the Janjaweed militia and protect the civilian population.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are currently more than 2,500 African Union (AU) personnel deployed to Darfur. The current AU mandate requires it to carry out pro-active monitoring and allows it to protect civilians in the immediate vicinity under imminent threat of attack.
	An AU-led assessment mission, including representatives from the European Union (EU), US, United Nations, Canada and the UK, has recently returned from Darfur, Khartoum and Addis Ababa, where it examined the work being undertaken by the AU mission and what further support donors could provide. We expect the mission to recommend that the AU focus on getting the current mission deployed and fully operational as quickly as possible, with a view to increasing the force size in due course. To this end, the UK has provided over £14 million and loaned technical expertise to the AU.

EU Presidency 2004

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether each department has been requested to submit their two priority issues for the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union; and, if so, what issues each department has chosen.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My department has not asked other government departments to submit two priority issues for the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union. However we have undertaken some work to identify dossiers which are likely to take centre stage during our presidency. We will focus first and foremost on the EU agenda we inherit from the Luxembourg presidency. We have played a key part in shaping this agenda, and it is positive for the UK. It demonstrates that the EU is moving in the right direction, reforming and delivering on the issues that matter to people—jobs, security and promoting peace and prosperity globally, as well as at home.
	My right honourable friend the Prime Minister is committed to using the opportunity offered by our twin presidencies of the EU and the G8 to make real progress on climate change and Africa. We will work with our G8 and EU partners to ensure complementary action wherever possible.
	We have identified a number of likely main priority dossiers within the broader agenda. However, the precise work programme—which also contains a wide range of other business—will continue to evolve, as it depends on the progress of business during the first half of the year and indeed on world events. Key dossiers on which we will focus include: better regulation; the services directive; the post-financial services action plan agenda—better implementation and enforcement of measures affecting the financial sector; the environment and sustainable development (including REACH—the chemicals directive); sugar reform; the Doha development agenda; development and Africa; climate change; transatlantic relations—in particular strengthening the economic partnership—counter-terrorism; peace, stability and reform in the Middle East; Russia; Ukraine and Turkey.

Bosnia: Srebrenica Massacre

Lord Russell-Johnston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations to the Russian Government on whether Vujadin Popovic and Vinko Pandurevic, both accused of direct involvement in the massacre at Srebrenica, are sheltered by the Russian authorities.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK Government can confirm that Vinko Pandurevic surrendered voluntarily and was transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague on 23 March 2005. Vujadin Popovic remains at large. The UK Government continue to work closely with partners, including the Russian Government, as well as with the ICTY, on all matters relating to the tribunal and outstanding fugitive indictees.

Identity Cards

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further investigations they have made on the design of the proposed identity card in the light of the conclusions of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Report (paragraph 197, 4 Report, Session 2003–04).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government's response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report was published in October 2004 (Cm 6359). Pages 23 and 24 set out the changes to the Government's approach to issuing ID cards in the light of the committee's views.

Identity Cards

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to protecting the proposed identity card system should access to the central database be disabled for whatever reason; and how they propose to ensure that cards can be effectively used offline.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The National Identity Register will be held in secure environments. Access to the register itself will only be available to authorised persons. Although the design of the scheme is not yet finalised, it is intended to deliver a highly resilient on-line verification service, utilising some of the information held on the register. The verification service will have business continuity arrangements for users of the service which are also not yet finalised.

Identity Cards

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they propose to ensure that a forensic, non-erasable record of an identity card's history is maintained so that it can be used in criminal cases involving attempts to compromise the system.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The identity cards scheme will aim to comply with British standards PD5000 and BIS 0008 (code of practice for legal admissibility of information stored electronically).

UNHCR: Joint Quality Initiative Project on Asylum Claims

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' observations in its initial report on the Joint Quality Initiative Project concerning the handling of asylum claims by government workers, the need for better background and country of origin information, and for training and support for staff involved in the first stage of the process.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Her Majesty's Government are still considering the full detail of this extremely useful report. We agree with many of the recommendations.

Cyprus: Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Human Rights Ordinance (9 of 2004) made by the administrator of the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus excludes the protection of the convention rights contained in Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lord Bach: The Human Rights Ordinance does not include the convention rights contained in the First Protocol to the convention because that protocol was not extended to the sovereign base areas by the United Kingdom. This is because the requirement to hold free elections under Article 3 of that protocol could not be given full effect to in the sovereign base areas as a result of the constitutional arrangements in place for the areas whereby the administrator is not an elected post. However, two ordinances have been enacted by the administrator to provide domestic rights based on those contained in Articles 1 and 2 of the First Protocol—the Protection of Property Ordinance 2004 (Ordinance 35 of 2004) and the Right to Education Ordinance 2005 (Ordinance 8 of 2005).

Armed Forces: Advice and Support for Child Recruits

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information is provided to child recruits by HM Armed Forces about the nature of the obligations imposed upon them, and the avenues of complaint and redress in cases of alleged failure to provide a safe place and system of work, including protection against bullying.

Lord Bach: The nature of service discipline and obligations is explained to all recruits, including those aged under 18, on recruitment and throughout training. Although the information given to recruits varies slightly between services, individuals typically receive briefing on welfare and avenues of complaint within their first few days. They are provided with information on where to find advice and support (for example, through welfare staff, organisations such as the WRVS and chaplains), how to complain about inappropriate treatment, and how to access confidential support lines. Recruits are also issued with a welfare contact card showing all the relevant numbers and encouraging them to report any bullying or harassment.

Royal Navy: Ship Security Measures

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding they have made available for the protection of Her Majesty's ships in harbours and anchorages abroad, during each year from 2000 to 2005; and
	What funding they will make available to develop further the protection of Her Majesty's ships in harbours and anchorages abroad.

Lord Bach: Under CINCFLEET financial accounting structures, the amount spent on security measures in the years in question could only be separated from the overall cost of ships' visits abroad at disproportionate cost.
	Up to £1.5 million additional funding will, however, be earmarked for further protective measures on an as needed basis in the financial years 2005–09.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Bach on 22 March (WA 20–21), what was the total expenditure from public funds on the legal costs of contesting through the courts war pension claims of victims of the 1990–91 Gulf War.

Lord Bach: There has been one appeal to the High Court concerning a war pension claim by a veteran of the 1990–91 Gulf War. The total expenditure for external legal costs, which on an exceptional basis also included the veteran's own costs, amounted to £154,189.42.

International Traffic in Arms Regulations

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations waiver for United Kingdom defence and security programmes.

Lord Bach: We were disappointed that Congress again deleted the provision for an International Traffic in Arms Regulations exemption for the United Kingdom from the Defense Authorizations Act last November, but we welcome the fact that language was included in support of expeditious processing of export licence applications. In the light of this, we are discussing with the US Administration the ITAR waiver and the way forward on licensing and improved defence industrial co-operation.

Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will offer local authorities guidance on how to distinguish between the new Class A3 and the new Class A4 under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/84).

Lord Rooker: On 21 March the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a circular instruction 03/2005 entitled, Changes of Use of Buildings and Land: The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. This circular provides a guide to the use classes order as amended by Statutory Instruments 2005/84 and 2000/85 which created the new classes A3 and A4. Copies have been made available in the Libraries of the House.

Jubilee Line Fraud Case

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the court in the Jubilee Line fraud case sat on only 40 per cent of normal sitting days.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I refer to the Statement submitted to the House on 22 March 2005 (Official Report, col. WS 18) by the Attorney-General. Time was lost due to illness, scheduled holidays, periods of paternity leave, and an operation. Legal argument has also involved substantial periods where the jury were not required to hear evidence.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer has met the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, to discuss the role of the Treasury.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No such discussion has taken place.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Government departments have retained the services of McKinsey and Company since the appointment of the Lord Birt as the Prime Minister's strategy adviser.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No information is held centrally on individual assignments for which government departments have contracted with McKinsey & Company.

Electricity Regulations: Definition of "Working Days"

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Electricity (Applications for Licences, Modification of an Area and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) Regulations (S.I. 2004/2541) do not define "working days".

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Interpretation Act 1978 provides that where a term is defined in the parent or enabling act (in this case the Electricity Act 1989) unless the contrary intention appears it will have the same meaning in subordinate legislation.
	Therefore it is not necessary to define the term in the Electricity (Applications for Licences, Modification of an Area and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) Regulations unless we intended for it to have a different meaning from the Act.

Electricity and Gas Regulations: Transitional Provisions

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the implications of the transitional provisions in paragraph 2(1) of the Electricity (Applications for Licences, Modification of an Area and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) (No. 2) Regulations (S.I. 2004/2952) and the Gas (Applications for Licences and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2983).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The implications of the transitional provisions are that any applications that were made under previous regulations and were being processed when these regulations came into force would be deemed to be valid under the new regulations.
	In previous cases where we have produced amended regulations we have said that the applicant will need to provide any additional information required under the new regulations or something to state that no further information is required.
	However, in this case, as there were no changes to the regulations that would affect outstanding applications (as the only change was the introduction of interconnector provisions), this was not necessary; therefore outstanding applications were automatically valid under this provision.

Computer Malware

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given recent research by Symantec indicating that 25.2 per cent of the world's "zombie" computers are located in the United Kingdom, what action they are taking to address this proliferation and its causes.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Symantec research referred to by the noble Lord supports my department's assessment that there is a challenge to raise awareness among home users on how to use the Internet safely and the sensible precautions they can take.
	The DTI is actively engaged in a wide range of activities aimed primarily at business users and the DTI information security website provides best practice guidance for businesses. My officials also regularly work with other government departments, law enforcement agencies and business in promoting awareness and best practice to all users. Current projects include developing warning, advice and reporting points (WARPS) to support user communities and promoting ITsafe (a government website and alert service, providing users and small businesses with help to protect computers and other devices from malicious attacks). In the near future, Project Endurance, a collaborative project involving industry, law enforcement agencies and government departments such as the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and the DTI, will focus on awareness raising and crime prevention for home users.
	Of course, educating users is only one solution and there is work to be done in preventing the development and distribution of malicious software. UK law enforcement agencies continue to seek to detect and prosecute individuals in the UK involved in the creation and dissemination of this software, and where appropriate pass on details of such activity to counterparts in other jurisdictions. This is a global issue and my officials continue to work with industry, agencies and other governments in developing ways in which to minimise the impact of computer malware.

Easter Act 1928

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to amend the Easter Act 1928 in order to bring its principal provision into effect.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: We have no plans to amend the Easter Act 1928. It remains on the statute book but the Act requires that before a draft order is laid before Parliament "regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian body".
	At this time, the Churches have not expressed a desire or willingness to move to a fixed Easter.

Export Credits Guarantee Department:Anti-corruption Controls

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken to strengthen anti-corruption controls within the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Export Credits Guarantee Department's (ECGD's) anti-bribery and corruption procedures are among the most robust in use by any of the world's leading export credit agencies.
	On 18 March 2005, ECGD launched a consultation on changes to its anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced in December 2004. The consultation document can be found on its website at www.ecgd.gov.uk.
	The consultation will close on 18 June 2005. ECGD will then consider all the representations it has received and thereafter the Government's response to the consultation will be issued.

MRSA

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have caught the community-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus bug (CA-MRSA) acquired in gymnasia and health clubs in the United Kingdom; and
	How many people have died from the community-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus bug (CA-MRSA) acquired from gymnasia and health clubs in the United Kingdom.

Lord Warner: Community-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) usually refers to cases of MRSA isolated from previously healthy people without any obvious risk factors such as admission to hospital. The Health Protection Agency's (HPA) staphylococcal reference laboratory has confirmed 100 cases over the past three years—an extremely small proportion of the isolates they receive (0.005 per cent). The Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and the HPA are monitoring reports of CA-MRSA and recommend continued vigilance, but that there is no immediate cause for concern.
	Reporting systems do not collect information on where infections are acquired so it is not possible to provide figures on how many people have acquired MRSA from gymnasia and health clubs.
	Through our monitoring of MRSA we are aware of only one case where a patient with community-acquired MRSA died. We do not know whether this contributed to the death or the source of the infection.

Countryside Agency: The State of the Countryside 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many copies of The State of the Countryside 2004 have been produced; at what total cost; and whether they have generated any income.

Lord Whitty: A total of 3,100 copies of the Countryside Agency's The State of the Countryside Report 2004 were printed. The total cost of the publication was £60,000. The cover price is £10. To date (March 2005) the agency has received £2,620 from sales and 400 copies remain in stock. The balance comprises copies which have been distributed free of charge, mainly to stakeholders and other government departments, to provide an up-to-date picture of rural issues.

Rail Fatality Management Group: Prevention of Suicides Guidelines

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Rail Fatality Management Group has published its new guidelines on the prevention of suicides on the railway; and, if not, when publication is expected.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Although this recently-formed group had originally intended to publish guidelines by the end of March, the group is now reassessing its work programme and has not yet agreed revised timings for meeting its objectives.